-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carnivore2+ MultiFunctional Cartridge Copyright (c) 2025 RBSC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The utilities and the readme.txt file were originally made by Vladimir and were shared with the RBSC team for deploying into the repository. Please note that this solution may contain the older version of Boot Menu and BIOSes, so it's advised to update the firmware, Boot Menu, BIOSes and tools from the repository after enabling your cartridge. The "CFimage.bin" file contains the latest (to the release date) versions of the Boot Menu, Music Module BIOS, IDE and SD BIOSes. You can also use the "Carnivore2+.rom" file from the OpenMSX subfolder in the Carnivore's repository. This file should always contain the latest Boot Menu and BIOSes. Just rename it to "CFimage.bin" and follow flashing instructions. IMPORTANT! Flashing data into the cartridge must be done only on an empty cartridge, without any active BIOSes, otherwise the program will hang or crash on erasing of the FlashROM. This will happen if one of disk BIOSes on Carnivore2+ is active. The flashing must be done only from a CF card. Flashing from SD card won't work! Flashing Boot Menu and BIOSes on a diskless MSX ----------------------------------------------- This directory contains utilities that allow flashing Boot Menu, IDE and FMPAC BIOSes into flash memory of newly-assembled cartridge using MSX machine that does not have a disk drive. The installation uses CF card (with BIOS images and Boot Menu) plugged into the cartridge. Before using this method the FPGA firmware must be already updated to the latest compatible version. See the documentation for the firmware updating instructions. Flashing instructions --------------------- Note: Before attempting the following process it is worth verifying that the CF IDE interface on cartridge is functional. The included cftest utility describe below can be used for that. 1. Write "CFimage.bin" file to the physical start of CF card using a card reader attached to a PC computer. The file must be written directly to CF card (raw image mode), without any file system on the card. Note: this operation completely destroys any existing file system on a CF card, so any existing files on a card will be lost. Backup everything valuable first! NOTE: If, by mistake, this operation is applied to any other local disk drive on your computer (such as your system drive) the contents of that disk will be destroyed! So, be very careful and check on which drive you write the BIN file! On unix-like OS use the following command: sudo dd if=CfImage.bin of= where is system specific, on linux it will be something like /dev/sdb. Consult your OS documentation for getting this path on other systems. On Windows OS any utility working with disk drives directly must be used. For example, WinHex or HXD (https://mh-nexus.de/en/): - Start the program as administrator. Open CFImage.bin, select all and copy (from edit menu) - Open disk from "Extras" menu, select "Removable disk" from list of Physical disks. Make sure your CF card is the only removable drive plugged into computer to avoid mistakes. Uncheck "Open as Readonly" before proceeding - Select "Paste Write" from "Edit" menu immidiately after opening disk so that cursor is at the start of disk. Select "Save" from file menu 2. Insert CF card into the cartridge. Insert the cartridge into MSX machine. Turn on the machine and run the following Basic command: bload"cas:",r Play the CF2FLASH.WAV or CF2FLASH.MP3 file via the cassette interface of MSX machine. Note: If Windows Media Player doesn't play the file, use Audacity or VLC Player: (http://www.audacityteam.org/) !IMPORTANT! If the FlashROM is not recognized by the utility or MSX doesn't boot, keep the magnet close to the right side of Carnivore2+ cartridge's case all the time until the machine boots to MSX Basic. 3. Once the program loaded, it will start automatically and will prompt to enter the slot number where the cartridge is installed. After they slot number is entered, and the operation is confirmed, the program will write all necessary data from CF card into the cartridge's FlashROM 4. After the "All done" success message, restart you machine, and you should be greeted by the freshly installed Boot Menu. Further steps ------------- From boot menu press Space or Esc in order to boot with default and the only configuration. Once booted to Nextor Basic, enter command "call fdisk", format your CF card, transfer MSX DOS2 and other Carnivore utilities to the card from your PC. Boot with the card in the cartridge straight to MSX DOS2. Enjoy your machine being not diskless any more! Using CFTEST utility to verify IDE function on cartridge -------------------------------------------------------- The CFTEST utility allows to dump the contents of a ROM in any slot to screen and also to read and show the contents of any sectors from Carnivore's CF card when the slot and subslot are entered correctly. Run the utility by playing CFTEST.WAV or CFTEST.MP3 file into cassette input after entering the Basic command: bload"cas:",r NOTE: If Windows Media Player doesn't play the file, use Audacity or VLC Player: (http://www.audacityteam.org/) Enter the main slot number of the cartridge, press 1 for the subslot number (IDE), press "S" key to dump IDE sector. Enter sector number 0, for example. If the IDE interface functions well and the slot and subslot were entered correctly, the program will dump the contents of a sector on CF card to the screen. If you entered an incorrect slot number or the IDE is not working correctly, there will be a long pause without output followed by an error message. You can use the "Esc" key to return to slot selection at any time.